Holidays are a great way to spend some quality time together as a family. Here are 5 ways to ensure that your next holiday is memorable for all the right reasons. Here are our top tips for having a happy, family getaway.
Preparation is the key to a successful family holiday. Knowing exactly how to prepare comes in part from learning your family’s special requirements. Depending on the age of your family, some of the things to prepare include a list of attractions family members would love to visit, restaurants to try, events in the area or unique places you’d like to explore. Travel and social media websites are full of suggestions of things to do, or you could call or speak to your accommodation destination to get a local’s perspective! You can also use an app to plan out your trip, an app like TripIt, lets you store your travel itinerary and reservations in one place, allowing you to look forward to a great, stress free holiday with your loved ones.
Snacks, tissues, a first aid kit, sun screen, water and games or toys are just some of the basics that are invaluable to have on you at all times. Your specific “family pack” will depend on the size of your family, where you are visiting and the age of everyone but having those things around can be a life saver. A great way to teach your children responsibility is to have everyone take turns with the pack.
Hiring a car adds convenience and flexibility to your trip and puts you in control of your own schedule. It is also a great way to transport any items you may want to have with you including your “family pack,” a change of clothes, swimming gear and snacks for hungry tummies. By hiring a car, you’ll be able to avoid the last minute dash for the tour bus and really take your time exploring your destinations surroundings. GPS allows you to easily navigate a foreign city easily, and also help estimate how much travel time to factor in. If you prefer to “choose your own adventure” then a car is certainly for you.
"Preparation is the key to a successful family holiday. Knowing exactly how to prepare comes in part from learning your family’s special requirements."
Treat this as a fun family activity where everyone makes their own packing checklist and then reads it aloud. This will ensure that everything necessary is packed and will also help educate your kids about packing responsibly. You can use the same checklist when you are leaving your getaway to ensure that nothing is left behind.
Once you have a list of all the local attractions, allow everyone in the family to choose the thing they would most like to do. Plan an itinerary accordingly with lots of wiggle room to ensure you can spend as much time as you like at each attraction. The fun thing about this is that members of the family will likely learn that they enjoyed someone else’s choice just as much as theirs. It is a great way to have everyone try something new.
Every family is different and hopefully you have a few of your own methods but this is a good place to start. If you need more information on your hotel and the surrounding area, contact Mantra today!